The Barn

The Barn
© David Boureau

THE BARN

ZIEGLER Antonin architecte

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Antonin Ziegler Architecte

AREA
217 m²

YEAR
2016

LOCATION
Notre-dame-de-bliquetuit, France

CATEGORY
Houses

The Barn
© Antonin Ziegler

Text description provided by architect.

In the Regional Natural Park of Boucles de la Seine, a barn in ruins was reconverted into a place of residence.

The Barn
© Antonin Ziegler
The Barn
© Antonin Ziegler

Abandoned at the edge of the river, it used to hold the fodder for the haulage horses. Its thin weatherboarding had been worn away over time – only the timber framework remained.

A building lost in the wheat fields facing the river... In this very simple, rural context, the Project intends to be just as rustic, without sophistication or details.

The Barn
© David Boureau
The Barn
© David Boureau

The new shelter was built onto the existing one. A shell of zinc covers the roof and walls to conserve a monolithic, agricultural architecture with few openings.

The framework is the fundamental element of the new residence. From the outside, it remains partially visible, beneath the zinc envelope, thus conferring an incomplete aspect to the construction, as though eroded by the surrounding nature.

The Barn
© Antonin Ziegler
The Barn
© David Boureau

The windows and doors are visually understated: the archetypal house is kept at bay to give rise to another kind of habitat, more in keeping with the surrounding wilderness. A lone crack that pierces the roof and walls thus gives the project the appearance of a contemporary ruin.

The patina of natural zinc that develops quickly reinforces the impression of a building that has always been there. The whole process of construction remains apparent: from the Stone foundations, to the half-timbered framework, entirely visible in the interior space.

The Barn
© David Boureau
The Barn
© David Boureau

The choice of interior materials expresses the same desire for rusticity as the exterior: breezeblocks, battens, exposed concrete slabs, and so on.

The half-timbered façade punctuates the view of the river and the passage of the boats, from one season to the next.

The house lets in light on all sides: a single view encompasses the whole complex, from the swim spa at the northern extremity to the end of the lounge to the south against a backdrop of landscape.

The Barn
© Antonin Ziegler
The Barn
© David Boureau
The Barn
© David Boureau

The bedrooms nestled under the timberwork, like perches, in the place where the hay was stored, allow the ground floor level to be almost entirely liberated of any partitions.

This large living área spanning the full surface of the house places the occupant in a position where they are surrounded by nature.

The Barn
© Antonin Ziegler


The Barn
Ground Floor
The Barn
First Floor


The Barn
North Elevation
The Barn
South Elevation
The Barn
East Elevation
The Barn
West elevation
The Barn
Longitudinal Section
The Barn
Transversal Section


The Barn
Technical Section
The Barn
Exploded View